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U.S. Air-Traffic Liberation

Post Date: June 10th, 2016 11:45 am

Next time you’re 27th in line for takeoff on a airport tarmac, thank the federal government. The Federal Aviation Administration runs an air-traffic control system on the best technology World War II could offer, so it’s good news that some in Congress are trying to free up the aviation community to adopt better practices.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has proposed a bill that would set up air-traffic control as a nonprofit corporation governed by a board of 13 players—airlines, pilots, controllers and more. The FAA would retain its role in regulating safety. Instead of funding air-traffic control through taxes, the nonprofit would collect fees directly from customers.